When In Seoul part 2.1

thank you for coming back!

Hi guys.

I'm guessing you came back to follow up on previous story. So, let's get crackin'!

So, by 8pm of Day 2 in Seoul, I thought of going to the Cheonggyecheon Stream. 
It was actually set for visit on our final full day in Seoul but I thought, "we could squeeze it in tonight" and that was what we do.

This is when the first incident happened.

We exited the stairs from the station. Stopped for a moment, wondering which way to go next coz even with my 'thorough' planning, I missed out the part on how to get to the stream. 

Lesson no. 1: No matter how well you think you prepared, things can still go wrong.

So, we went to the right first. coz, you know, the 'right' way. but it doesn't seem right, so we go back to where we started and began Googling the place. and from where we stood, the Stream was on the left side. Thus, trust in Google, we went to the left.

As we were stopping at a pedestrian red light, a couple approached us. Being friendly. I thought, maybe they just wanted to help. They said they were college students and were studying Korean Culture. Our responses to these two were pretty limited, like, Yeah? Ok. Right. The guy's English was better than the girl. So, when she couldn't speak, the guy would assist. Which made me think, "oh, maybe they're practicing English".
and then, the guy began talking about, Korean Culture and wondered if we were interested in wearing hanbok. I excitedly answered, "Yes! we're going to wear them tomorrow" and I don't remember what else the guy said but the girl continue with this talk about 'tea ceremony' and even showing me traditional style picture of a lady in front of a 'shrine' pouring tea. She was explaining how that ceremony works and the moment she said "you know bow? like sholat?" I froze. Like, I froze.
I quickly said, "oh. no thank you" and quickly linked arm with my friend. The guys asked "where you guys going? maybe we can help you"
but I insisted, "Oh its okay"
AS IF LISTENING TO MY SILENT PRAYERS the pedestrian light turned green and I literally dragged my friend with me and crossed the road. Like, literally!

When we get to the other side, I STARTED FREAKIN OUT. AND LITERALLY KEEP TRYING TO DRAG MY FRIEND TO MOVE FASTER. 
I was so scared!
You wanna know why?
Becoz it took me a while to CLICK in my head but the moment she said "like sholat?" I was like, "this is that viral cult members targeting tourist"
I actually watched videos of these incidents to prepare myself!

Lesson no.2: No matter how you prepared yourself, sometimes, you forget.

OMG! what scared the fuck out of me is the fact that kami bedua yoh! bukan aku sorang2. KAMI BEDUA! they still approached you even though you're not alone. They probably thought we weren't aware of their 'projects'. Well, I was aware but my friend wasn't.

Lesson no. 3: Share important information like this one with your travel buddies. Don't assume they know. Even after you share the information with them prior to the trip, remind them again before you arrived at destination.

As my heart raced, we still continue on towards the Stream which we somewhat found easily after that. and enjoyed our strolled. The stroll was partly to calm my nerve and figured out an alternative route to go back to our hostel so that we don't have to go back to where we came from.

Lain lagi story nya time kami jalan2 di bawah atu. The Stream area is like in the middle of the city and is like, a dent. Refer picture to understand my meaning. LOL

not my picture

as mentioned in the previous post, down there, it was quiet coz when we arrived we were the only ones. After a few miles, I suggested we go up. At least up there, there would be people.
But bad move. When we walked a mile up there, it felt far less save? if that even make sense. So, we went back down. and when we went back down, we see more and more people strolling like us. some even do their jogging. we felt a lot better. Me mostly. coz I was still shaken.
We were not sure how long the stream go but we decided to turned back around.

There were a lot of mural on the walls. One part was dedicated to the ancient story about a King's procession. again. no picture for this one.

We climbed back up where we came down from and I decided to take picture of this siput coz I don't think they knew what siput is.

and this was when second incident happened. 

As I took out my phone to take picture, I already noticed this 'uncle' holding a paper cup. He was cheery and I think I smiled his way. COZ THATS JUST WHO I AM! I AM SO GENEROUS WITH MY SMILE! FUCK! and after taking the picture of the siput, the 'uncle' was speaking full on Korean to us. I only understand the word 'picture' and I assumed he wanted to take picture of us as he gestured to my phone. Again, I freaked out and quickly said 'No thank you' and dragged my friend away.
The uncle actually insisted to take our picture but when he saw another group of females he went their way and I dragged my friend even more.
Yes, the uncle was drunk.

Lesson no. 4: DON'T BE SO GENEROUS WITH YOUR SMILE AZNUUR!?! ARE YOU NOT LEARNING ANYTHING?!

We went to the same station we came from and got to our hostel in peace. EXCEPT FOR MY INNER TURMOIL!

ARGH! 

I even continuously mimic the girl 'you know like sholat' with "No bitch. that is not like sholat" LOL

Have you ever feel like that? Takut jua, marah jua, frustrated jua, embarass jua, kan nangis jua. all of that at once. 

AND IT WAS ONLY OUR DAY 2 IN SEOUL!

MY GOAT!

WHY CAN WE FEMALE TRAVEL IN PEACE!?

Ok.

Obviously the next day we were ok. Even I was at ease. but from then on, I was super paranoid whenever we were around a quiet area but at that point, we avoid quiet area completely.

. . .

Please tell me this doesn't only happened to me? coz before Seoul, there was one more incident like this when I went to KL. that time pun I wasn't on my own! I was with my cousin! argh

Every time I think about going back to KL or planning to visit Seoul again, I'm having mini anxiety attack. Like I'm not even joking guys.


. . . 

Anyway, that is the end of Part 2.1

Tomorrow I'll be posting Part 3 of When in Seoul. a far more vibrant post than this one, I promised.

See you on tomorrow's post.

. . .